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Put Down That Basketball! Sport Causes Crime!

That is the argument of Sebastien Roche, a French political scientist. In writing about the French riots last year, Roche has challenged the conventional wisdom that sports provide a good outlet for young men and perhaps keeps them out of trouble. To the contrary, Roche contends, “the practice of sport never reduces the number of crimes” and, furthermore, sports can even “give the opportunity to develop physical abilities useful for street crime: running, how to use impulsive behaviour, how to master the use of force.”

This strikes me as a fascinating subject, and an interesting argument, although the proof offered by Roche and his like-minded colleagues seems very thin. Their research is based on interviews with young men and shows that the more time a young man spends playing sports, the more likely he is to have committed a serious crime. But does this mean that sports are the culprit? Couldn’t it just as easily mean that the kind of young man who’s criminally inclined a) doesn’t have a job; and b) therefore has a lot of free time; which c) he spends playing sports? The argument that sports and violence go hand and hand is a powerful one (though hardly new: Robert Lipsyte, for one, has written convincingly on the subject in the past); but I don’t find Roche’s arguments very persuasive.

I learned of this study thanks to Stephane Neyreneuf, who read about the subject in L’Equipe, the French sports newspaper. Stephane was kind enough to send along an English translation, which I believe he did himself. It is not the most fluid translation (no offense, S.) but it is a really fascinating article, including counter-arguments to Roche’s claim, and so I include it below in its entirety:

L’EQUIPE, October 11th 2006, page 10.

More sport, more crimes?

Several scientific surveys question the supposedly positive role of sports.
A year ago, riots happened in about ten sensitive neighbourhoods. The death of two teenagers in Clichy- sous-bois, electrocuted in the power transformer where they hid to escape from a police control, caused this outburst.
After thirteen nights of clashes, declaration of state urgency and curfew in many cities, the Prime Minister announced a budget of 100 million euros for associations working in those urban areas notably in the field of sports. The Prime minister asked Jean-FranÃ§ois Lamour, Minister in charge of Youth, Sports and Associations, to increase the availability of cultural activities and sports for those urban areas.
This approach has been common since the beginning of the 90’s when Bernard Tapie, then CEO of Adidas and future Ministre de la Ville (department in charge of cities, development, problems of inner city neighbourhoods, integration…), rushed into the suburbs to hand out balls and sports shoes to the youngsters.
Yet, in the meantime, several authors have underlined that there is no positive link between the practice of sport and the decrease of juvenile delinquency. Sebastien Roché, head of research at the CNRS, teacher in Political science in Grenoble recently published a book on last year’s riot. In December 2005, this sociologist summed up the conclusions of two previous surveys (1999 and 2003). They clearly underlined that “the practice of sport never reduces the number of crimes”. On the contrary, they tend to show that such a practice “can give the opportunity to develop physical abilities useful for street crime: running, how to use impulsive behaviour, how to master the use of force”.
Those surveys also reveal that sport often offers the first fight opportunity, “more often than nightclubs, bars or any other place” precise Roché. What if France had it all wrong on how to tackle delinquency?

Interview of Sébastien Roché :
? In France, we love conventional wisdom »
L’équipe:
Where does the idea that building gymnasiums would help to bring peace in inner city suburbs come from?
Sébastien Roché:
According to me, there is no scientific research proving this link while existing research shows the contrary. As soon as 1994, Marie Choquet and Sylvie Ledoux worked on this theme at the INSERM*. From a national sample and with another methodology, they found the same conclusions than our study. In other countries, notabily in the United states, regional studies lead to the same results. But in France, we love conventional wisdom so much that we don’t feel the need to verify them.
L’équipe:
“Did the riots in 2005 confirm the results of your study?”
Sébastien Roché:
Absolutely. In difficult inner city neighbourhoods, there is a complete range of sports and cultural activities available to the youngsters. This explosion, sudden and violent, proves that there is no link with the supply of socio-cultural activities. Even gymnasiums were burnt. But on the contrary we should not conclude that cutting sports subsidies would be a solution to the problem of juvenile delinquency.
L’équipe:
“So sports do not set fire in suburbs but it is also wrong to thing that by developing sports activities we would bring peace to difficult inner cities?
Sébastien Roché:
To consider sports as a political tool to maintain peace or to socialize youth is a false lead. When a mayor wants to fight delinquency, such an approach will always be suggested by some people. But those people don’t know about the results of the rigorous researches that have been led on this subject. In fact, the ideal that social science can help in political decision process is not common in the French political culture. Behind all this, there is a market. Associations are not necessarily looking for profit, but they want to keep their permanent staff, to keep their visibility. So they sell projects keys in hand and many mayors think it’s a good idea because they are based on the idea that those fields need to be occupied.

L’équipe:
This is understandable at the level of the mayors but not at the state level…
Sébastien Roché:
The president himself needs to present projects which seem to obtain full support from the people. The Ministry of the Interior too, though in a different fashion. They are going to look after projects supported by the people. When delinquency is concerned, they’ll go for simple and visible solutions: jails, sports, street surveillance… there is a political use of sport. Sport is made to have fun with friends, it’s healthy. But for some goals, the practice of sports is useless.
L’équipe:
You do not precise the sports concerned by your work…
Sébastien Roché:
We have used a sample representative of the schoolchildren population aged between 13 and 19 years old. Leading sports for this population reflects the sports that are globally the most popular meaning that soccer comes first. But the study does not make the distinction between soccer, basket ball, or judo for example. Other surveys have shown that the most aggressive people tend to go after fight sports. Those sports are taught in clubs with the sincere idea that it improves self control. But those sports are, also sincerely, chosen by those people as a way to assert their physical superiority.
L’équipe:
You also affirm that sporting events are the first place where the young will pick up a fight…
Sébastien Roché:
As well as sport can be a time of gathering, a time to party, practising sport can involve moments of high emotion that can push people to get their revenge after a humiliating loss or when they consider that the referees are responsible for their loss. This is the logic of the hooliganism: “They won but didn’t deserve it. Justice must be done”. For this young and alert population, it is the logic of the escalation of violence”.

L’équipe:
Can we conclude that sport equals danger?
Jean-Philippe Acensi
Let’s stop angelism. Enough of the speech on how fabulous is sport and on its virtues, which today are largely ridiculed. True, handing out balls does not solve any problem. The survey indeed shows this. But beware of its conclusions. We should say yes to sport and in the meantime request a true and thorough social en educative evaluation of the programs. Which sports? With what kind of management? In France, the social and educative role of sports is threatened by rising communitarism and by the extreme pressure from the media focusing on what goes wrong.
L’équipe:
That is…
Jean-Philippe Acensi
In difficult neighbourhoods, the practice of sports is essentially masculine, the pressure of communitarism is very strong and available sports mostly concern soccer and fighting sports. Aggravating circumstance: the management of those activities is very poor. How can you pass the values of sports if there is no proper management of the activities? Contrarily to French federation of judo, which is doing a remarkable job, soccer for example very little emphasizes the management. The observatory of violence set up by the ministry and the French federation of Soccer shows a disturbing increase of violence. The images of Zidane butting Materazzi during the World Cup final and the commentaries on this act let people think that it is legitimate to do yourself justice.
L’équipe:
What needs to be done?
Jean-Philippe Acensi
Volunteers are essential but we need to professionalize the management of those activities. The sports club must be open to a network of professionals: education, local councils… Sport must be about playing together, showing solidarity and, most of all fraternity. You cannot limit sport to only knowing the rules. We need financial means but also authentic projects such as “fÃªte le mur” supported by Yannick Noah or a “Hundred black belt” from the judo federation.”

A DISTURBING CURB
Percentage of teenagers who committed a serious crime (car thief, burglary, racket, frequent drug or other criminal traffic, throwing stones, aggression resulting in medical intervention) according to the time spent practising sport either freely or in a club. Example: for a population of a hundred teenagers aged between 13 & 19 years old, with a weekly practise of sports between 7 to 8 hours, 24.5 percent claim to have committed at least on of the aforementioned crime.

THE CONCLUSIONS OF THOSE SURVEYS

Those two surveys (1999 & 2003) reveal that:
– Increasing the practice of sports never results in a contraction of juvenile delinquency. On the contrary, more practice results in more crime for certain categories of teenagers notably children from the working class;
– The practice of sports in a club or association compared to free practice has only a positive incidence on the delinquency rate on 13-14 years old teenagers and white collar children;
– Sporting events are the first identified place for fights well before schools, nightclubs or bars.
THE METHODOLOGY:
In 1999, 2288 teenagers between 13 and 19 years old from Grenoble and Saint Etienne have been interviewed by Sébastien Roché and his team. In 2003, 1614 teenagers from Grenoble and its outskirts have answered to the survey.
The “national education” communicated the list of schoolchildren in those areas while confidentiality was guaranteed. Each teenager had a questionnaire to fill only on the base of voluntary and anonymous declaration. The information gathered were thus deemed to be more accurate and sincere than those collected by the police. Crime (degradations, theft, aggressions…) were classified in the questionnaire under a number not under their denomination to facilitate the release of information during the interview.

JEAN-FRANCOIS LAMOUR, ministry of Youth and associative life, rises up against this survey: “it’s a witch hunt”
L’équipe: What do you think of this survey?
Jean-franÃ§ois Lamour:
It is based on interviews not on facts. I am shocked by the contrast between the thin layer of statistical arguments and the peremptory reasons advanced to explain this supposed link between sports and juvenile delinquency. I am astounded by this witch hunt based on unproved assertions. The highlight of this survey consists of presenting sport as a tool box for teenagers to develop their ability to commit crime! Both educators and teenagers trained by them could rightly be upset by this conclusion.
L’équipe: What do you oppose to those results?
Jean-franÃ§ois Lamour:
Well managed, the practice of a sport has a true social and educative value even if it is not always the most appropriate answer to juvenile delinquency. It allows youngsters, some of them have dropped out of school, to have a new insertion opportunity. That’s why I have developed the “Parcours Animation Sport” (PAS) which allows 2500 teenagers from difficult suburbs to train to become educators by benefiting from a personalized follow up and a first job. I didn’t see any future delinquents in those young people.
L’équipe: What else behind this PAS?
Jean-franÃ§ois Lamour:
Let’s face the facts including the initiatives of those wonderful people who refuse fatalism. The project of “L’association sportive des Minguettes**”, in Vénissieux, and of the “Centre de recherché et d’éductaion par le sport”, led by Béatrice Clavel, is an example. Senior lecturer, she has developed a method with a solid scientific base which has been validated on the field. At their arrival in the club, 80 % of the teenagers had difficulties to learn the rules and to socialize. After a few months of soccer practice, with a qualified team of trainers and the right pedagogy, you do not find this same percentage. In the northern neighbourhoods of Le Havre, the association “l’émergence”, piloted by Allaoui Guenni, obtains positive results in terms of professional insertion thanks to the practice of fight sports. Local businesses have recruited 380 of those young people. There, we are far from one study which conclusions are disputable.

*Created in 1964, Inserm is a public institution with a scientific and technical vocation, under the dual auspices of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Research.

**Les Minguettes is a famous difficult neighbourhood near Lyon.

Bruce G Charlton

October 30, 2006 @ 5:02pm

It's the mass media, stoopid...

IMO it isn't sports participation that reduces crime, but sports in the media.

I believe that the mass media is the main cohesive force in liberal democracies - and the most valuable function is to enlist young men who are otherwise the most troublesome and dangerous social group.

http://www.hedweb.com/bgcharlton/paradox.html

The way the mass media grabs and hold the attention of young men is with sports, and with violent and pornographic material.

Which is why those who dislike this kind of stuff should tolerate it, as far as they can.

prosa

October 30, 2006 @ 8:18pm

Many prison systems in the United States prohibit inmates from engaging in sports activities that might make them more dangerous. Boxing and martial arts are taboo, as is weightlifting except for the lifting of light weights (165 pounds is the limit in the federal prison system).
As you might imagine, there is no evidence whatsoever that inmates who have engaged in these now-forbidden activities are any more dangerous, whether by being more prone to violence or more able to use force effectively. Correctional officers who actually work with the inmates, as opposed to administrators or legislators, are generally opposed to these "dangerous activity" prohibitions. Being able to box or weightlift can be an outlet for an inmate's aggressive tendencies and therefore can reduce his propensity to act violently.
In any event, prison inmates can be resourceful and often find ways around the prohibitions. Can't use a barbell to bench press? Get a couple of large guys to lie on a plank, and the problem is solved!

Read more...

jyb

October 31, 2006 @ 1:46am

re:prosa

Yes, I agree. It's sort of like that study about how porn is supposed to reduce sex crimes. It provides an outlet.

Just my own personal experience, the kids who I grew up with that didn't do anything (sports, extracurriculars) were the ones who got into trouble.

Gaijin51

October 31, 2006 @ 3:38am

This is anecdotal, but I recently started lifting weights about a year ago. When my dad was young and in the army, he also had a period where he lifted weights a lot and actually developed a pretty impressive physique, judging from old photos.

Anyway, he warned me that lifting weights could make you mean. His own experience was that he became more aggressive during the period when he lifted weights.

I also seem to have these aggresive impulses more often too, now that I am getting stronger. I am able usually to control my rage, but it is there. I like having a more muscular physique, but I agree that it does seem to have an effect that makes me feel more aggressive, which I have to control.

I suspect that what is going on is that weightlifting increases testosterone, which in turn makes young males more prone to aggressive feelings.

BRK

October 31, 2006 @ 12:39pm

I believe it was Albert Bandura, one of the leading behavioral psychologists, who pointed out that the patterns of reinforcement in a street gang is essentially the same as in a sports team.

It also seems (and I believe there's data for this) that members of sports teams (student or pro) get arrested at higher rates than the general population. Then there's the recent report on one of the networks of the problem of parent violence in organized kids sports.

Gaijin51

November 1, 2006 @ 1:32am

So, after further thought, and considering what BRK mentioned about "members of sports teams (student or pro) getting arrested at higher rates," I am further convinced that the most likely culprit is testosterone, which has an association with both sports and crime.

Men with more testosterone are better athletes, and men with more testosterone are also more likely to commit violent crimes. And, athletic training that builds muscles such as weightlifting also tends to increase testosterone (I think, can anyone confirm?).

I think we all know instinctively that men who look like Sylvester Stallone are more likely to be violent than men who look like Woody Allen.

Dmitry Linkov

November 3, 2006 @ 9:53am

Following the logic of Jean-Philippe, command games will affect on appearing of more gangs.

joe

August 22, 2007 @ 9:15pm

nerds!!!!!

Michael Terry

August 22, 2007 @ 9:27pm

The idea that bigger men are more aggressive because they have more testosterone is an interesting one. My own feeling has always been that bigger men can get away with more, so can afford to be more aggressive.

Sandbb

August 23, 2007 @ 12:38am

The real problem, at least in the USA is that from avery early age athletes are given a pass on grades, rules etc. It seems that they learn early on that for them the rules don't apply. The two best examples are Alan Iverson and Stefan Marbury.

Brian Law

August 23, 2007 @ 1:15am

It's nice to know that the French have "fair and balanced" reporting, in that both sides are presented and ideas explored. Other than the NYT and mostly the WSJ, can we say the same.

However,

Couldn't the NYT get someone in NYC to read the original article in L'équipe and do a better translation? No offense to Stephane Neyreneuf, who no doubt did his absolute best, but any translator at, say, the UN would hopefully do a better job.

David

August 23, 2007 @ 1:40pm

I've been watching the HBO series about training camp with the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs. It provides a window into the culture of American football (and the locker room) which rewards and reinforces violent behavior.

I don't know if we can isolate whether violent boys/men are attracted to violent sports or whether those sports reinforce violent behavior, but I imagine it's a little bit of both.

Karen

August 25, 2007 @ 5:50pm

Sports are considered a panacea for delinquent behavior, but team sports are, in fact, aggressive and use the language of war. There are no win-win situations in team sports, and the emphasis is on "obliterating" the other team. Brawn is valued over brains.

All the presumed advantages of sports can be found in other activities, including the arts. Take theater, for example. To produce a play, you need to tap a full range of talents: not only acting, but also designing, carpentry, sewing, lighting, sound, PR, business management, and leadership. The play fails unless all parties do their part and lend their creative and other skills.

Similarly, participating in a musical ensemble requires discipline, teamwork, and personal responsibility. It provides an emotional outlet and teaches lifelong skills in instrumental or vocal music.

I have also wondered whether low-income youth would be as prone to vandalism and graffiti if they received high-quality instruction in the visual arts.

After a sports event, even the most exciting and skillfully executed one, roughly half of the participants and spectators go home disappointed and angry. After a successful artistic event, both the participants and the audience go home happy, and the participants glow with a sense of accomplishment.

Read more...

Anne

August 29, 2007 @ 2:48pm

Karen's comments (25 August - 1:50 pm) WOW! YOU ARE SO RIGHT! - cooperative ventures/projects can and do lead to "win-win" outcomes. Now what we need are ways to promote this concept - and how difficult it will be to oppose the megabucks sporting industry where winning is the only thing admired. Food for thought indeed. Glad I found your comments. Posted by Anne

Herbert Murphy

March 9, 2008 @ 3:20am

I can use this for my final project

Bruce G Charlton

October 30, 2006 @ 5:02pm

It's the mass media, stoopid...

IMO it isn't sports participation that reduces crime, but sports in the media.

I believe that the mass media is the main cohesive force in liberal democracies - and the most valuable function is to enlist young men who are otherwise the most troublesome and dangerous social group.

http://www.hedweb.com/bgcharlton/paradox.html

The way the mass media grabs and hold the attention of young men is with sports, and with violent and pornographic material.

Which is why those who dislike this kind of stuff should tolerate it, as far as they can.

prosa

October 30, 2006 @ 8:18pm

Many prison systems in the United States prohibit inmates from engaging in sports activities that might make them more dangerous. Boxing and martial arts are taboo, as is weightlifting except for the lifting of light weights (165 pounds is the limit in the federal prison system).
As you might imagine, there is no evidence whatsoever that inmates who have engaged in these now-forbidden activities are any more dangerous, whether by being more prone to violence or more able to use force effectively. Correctional officers who actually work with the inmates, as opposed to administrators or legislators, are generally opposed to these "dangerous activity" prohibitions. Being able to box or weightlift can be an outlet for an inmate's aggressive tendencies and therefore can reduce his propensity to act violently.
In any event, prison inmates can be resourceful and often find ways around the prohibitions. Can't use a barbell to bench press? Get a couple of large guys to lie on a plank, and the problem is solved!

Read more...

jyb

October 31, 2006 @ 1:46am

re:prosa

Yes, I agree. It's sort of like that study about how porn is supposed to reduce sex crimes. It provides an outlet.

Just my own personal experience, the kids who I grew up with that didn't do anything (sports, extracurriculars) were the ones who got into trouble.

Gaijin51

October 31, 2006 @ 3:38am

This is anecdotal, but I recently started lifting weights about a year ago. When my dad was young and in the army, he also had a period where he lifted weights a lot and actually developed a pretty impressive physique, judging from old photos.

Anyway, he warned me that lifting weights could make you mean. His own experience was that he became more aggressive during the period when he lifted weights.

I also seem to have these aggresive impulses more often too, now that I am getting stronger. I am able usually to control my rage, but it is there. I like having a more muscular physique, but I agree that it does seem to have an effect that makes me feel more aggressive, which I have to control.

I suspect that what is going on is that weightlifting increases testosterone, which in turn makes young males more prone to aggressive feelings.

BRK

October 31, 2006 @ 12:39pm

I believe it was Albert Bandura, one of the leading behavioral psychologists, who pointed out that the patterns of reinforcement in a street gang is essentially the same as in a sports team.

It also seems (and I believe there's data for this) that members of sports teams (student or pro) get arrested at higher rates than the general population. Then there's the recent report on one of the networks of the problem of parent violence in organized kids sports.